Why do a multi-genre research project in my classroom?

Why not should be your question!
A multi-genre research report is an innovative, creative, fun way to get your students involved in conducting research.
With the new focus on research in the Common Core Reading and Language Arts Standards, there is no better time to get students interested in researching topics they love.

Kindergarten:

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• W.K.7. Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).
• W.K.8. With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question

First Grade

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• W.1.7. Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of “how-to” books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).
• W.1.8. With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Second Grade

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• W.2.7. Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
• W.2.8. Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Third Grade

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• W.3.7. Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
• W.3.8. Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Fourth Grade

• W.4.7. Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
• W.4.8. Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.
• W.4.9.Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
  • Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions].”).
  • Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text”).

Fifth Grade

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

• W.5.7. Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
• W.5.8. Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
• W.5.9.Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
  • Apply grade 5 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or a drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., how characters interact]”).
  • Apply grade 5 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point[s]”).